Bangkok - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who survived a bruising no-confidence motion last week, departed Monday for a four-day official trip to China that will include a visit to the Olympic Stadium and becoming an honorary professor.

Samak, 73, departed from Bangkok's Military Airport at 7:30 am aboard a special Thai Air Force plane flying direct to Beijing, where he will stay until Thursday when he travels on to Brunei.

In China, Samak will meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jia Bao and President Hu Jin Tao, holding talks aimed at tightening already close Thailand-China ties.

He will visit the stadium and other sites built to host the Olympic Games in August, and will become an honorary professor at the Beijing University of Linguistic and Cultural Studies.

The trip comes after Samak endured a blistering censure motion last week, in which the opposition Democrat party accused him of mismanaging the economy, selling off the country and being mentally unfit to head the government.

Democrat Member of Parliament Malinee Sukvejworakij, a medical doctor, told Parliament that Samak's "aggressive behaviour and bad temper" were symptomatic of a low IQ and emotional quotient.

"It's the first time I've seen a doctor diagnose a patient on the floor of Parliament," countered Samak.

Over the weekend, the premier asked Thailand's Medical Council to investigate whether it was a breach of medical ethics for Malinee to diagnose him in Parliament.

After visiting Beijing, Samak will fly on to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, completing his visits to the 10 capitals of the Association of South-EAst Asian Nations (ASEAN), since being named prime minister on January 28.

It is common etiquette for new Thai premiers to visit their South- East Asian neighbours before going farther afield.

Samak, a veteran right-wing politician, heads the People Power Party that won the most seats in general elections on December 23, 2007.

The party and Samak are known to enjoy the financial backing of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a billionaire telecommunications tycoon who dominated Thai politics from 2001-06 before his premiership was terminated by a military coup on September 19, 2006. (dpa)